Chapter 4: Cards

LUCREZIA

“You don’t want to marry me because you don’t have feelings for me?” I asked him before he could step out of the door and before father could say anything else and defend me on my behalf.

“Al cuore non si comanda.” (the heart wants what it wants) He replied, using my words against me.

“Then you’re a fool, Don Carusso,” I didn’t mind the people listening to our conversation anymore. All I could feel is anger and all I want is to give him a taste of his own medicine. “I graduated law with Latin honors. I’ve been trained in the business, exposed to the business since I was little. I would be more than just a wife to you, I will be your asset.”

I sounded so desperate, but nonetheless I was saying the truth. Only a fool would turn down a marriage proposal from me.

Pietro turned around, fully facing me. “Are you looking down on my power and my influence? I don’t need you to become more powerful. I don’t need more assets. Don’t let your feet float off the ground. I don’t need your family, it’s your family that needed us.”

I clenched my fist to my side and gritted my teeth. He was such a nice boy when we were a child. I couldn’t believe he had grown up like this.

“You’re going too far with your words Carusso. Just because someone confessed their feelings to you, it doesn’t give you the right to treat them like dogshit. Have no one ever confessed to you before?” Eros came to my defenses before I acted all savage and forget the things I had learned.

“Now that you mentioned it, I do have a lot of women confessing their feelings to me before. I got doctors, flight attendants, daughters of billionaires and even attorneys. If I’m looking for an asset, I’d rather marry one of them than marry her,” he spoke as if I wasn’t there then left before the conversation is over.

“Stronzo!” I shouted as I ran after him. Fortunately, he escaped to the least crowded part of the party.

With my high heels, I pursued him like a mother chasing after a toddler.

Pietro stopped and turned on his heel when he heard what I called him. He placed his hands inside his pockets and faced me with anger. I did just call him asshole in Italian.

“What did you just call me again?” He asked as if I will take back my words. I’m not scared of him. I’m not scared of anyone. I grew up with people who are scared of going against me.

I don’t care if he is the Don of the Carusso of family. I am the eldest daughter of the Don of Rocchi family, I don’t back down from anyone, I don’t bow to anyone and I especially don’t just take shit from anyone.

“I said stronzo and you deserve it,” I told him in equal fervor showing him the same level of anger.

I took a few step towards him, closing the distance between us until I could feel his breath on my face. I stared right to his eyes, matching his murderous glare.

I pushed his chest with my forefinger, pouring out all my anger until he stumbled backwards. He grabbed my hand forcefully to stop me from pushing him.

I tried to take my hand away, but he held me strongly. He did not let me go, which only made me feel more angry at him.

“No one calls me an asshole without getting punished. No one lifts a finger at me without leaving unscathed,” he growled under his breath.

Instead of feeling more angry at his threats, a weird sensation rippled down my spine instead. His low angry voice is enough to wet my panties. Pietro, what kind of curse have you placed on me?

“Then go ahead and call me whatever you want and let’s call it even!” I yelled him.

Pietro raised my hand above my head and pushed me to the nearest wall. I gasped when my back had hit the wall.

“Pietro!” I gasped his name in shock. My eyes are wide as saucers as I stared at his animalistic eyes that stared down on me.

Even with my high heels on, he still stood a few inches taller than me. I felt small at his huge body frame and for the first time I felt unsure because of the way he stares down at me.

I tried to wiggle my hand out of his grasp, but he held on it tightly, pressing it even harder on the wall as I struggled to get out of his hold.

“What are you doing?” I asked him, my voice sounding so unsure. My anger has already evaporated away because of his actions.

“You also lifted a finger on me, remember? I’m doing this so we can call it even.”

“You really took my words seriously?!” I ridiculed him and raised my eyebrows at him.

I even had the audacity to provoke him when I’m already growing scared at him. I regretted my words right after it left my mouth.

Still, I couldn’t back down and take my words back. I’m too prideful to do so. Letizia was right.

She had always told me that I don’t know when to stop and I always let my feelings get ahead of me. I also hold on my pride so dearly. I’m like a car with no breaks and no reverse driving.

When I want something, I go forward in full speed and I never stop until I ram myself to the wall. Even if there’s already a wall in front of me, I’d still go forward instead of backwards, crushing myself even further.

It’s a trait I must fix if I want to handle our family business, just like what my father said. Although, I also inherited that trait from him.

Pietro smirked, making my heart beat faster. “Coglione! I haven’t done anything to make us even yet.”

“What is he going to do?! What is he going to do?!” I screamed inwardly and before I could see his other hand that came up to my face, he had already successfully landed a flick on my forehead.

“Ah!” I winced in pain and rubbed my stinging forehead. “Cazzo!” (Fuck)

He finally lets go of my hand and steps away from me, giving us distance.

“Now we are finally even,” he spoke and turns to leave.

I scowled at what he just did and the name that he called me so we would become even.

Coglione, (Idiot) really? I’m going to slap my diploma to his face so he would know who he’s calling stupid.

With a hand still on my forehead, I watched at Pietro’s retreating back, still refusing to let him go like this. “You owe me a date!” I blurted out at him, making him stop for the third time.

“I owe you what?” He asked glancing at me over his shoulder.

“When we were kids, remember? I treated the wound on your arm, you owe me.”

“I owe you nothing.”

“Things don’t come for free in the mafia. I did you a favor, it’s time you repay that favor. A date… that’s all I ask.”

Pietro was quiet for a moment. He can’t say no because he owes me. In the mafia “You scratch my back, I scratch yours” is a virtue. “Fair enough.”

“Shall I call you tomorrow then?”

“It’s I who owes you a favor, isn’t it?” He asks me. I stayed silent for he already knows the answer. “I owe you a date, I should prepare that date. I’ll drive to your house when I’m ready.”

I bit my lip, I couldn’t believe I just secured a date with Pietro. I’ve been holding that card against him for too long, I didn’t know I would have to use it just to have a date with him.

I really had no intention of asking him to repay me for the small kindness I shown him when we were little. That day, I helped him without wanting to get anything back in return.

However, bringing that up is the only way that I’d get my chance with Pietro. I only have one card against him,one chance, one date, one night to make him change his mind and marry me.

“Don’t take too long,” I muttered, thinking that he might be thinking of having our date next month or even next year.

“Tomorrow night,” he paused. “Tomorrow night I’ll drive to your house and we go on a date.”

Even with the knowledge that he is only forced to have the date with me, my heart still rejoiced within me at the thought of finally having a romantic dinner with him.

“This must stay between us, you understand? No one, not even your family must know about this.”